Pair held in Glenwood for kidnap, rape

GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Two men were arrested last week after a woman reported being kidnapped from a bus stop in Denver, sexually assaulted, and dropped off about 12 hours later at a rest stop in Glenwood Canyon.

Robert Pacheco, 34, faces preliminary felony charges of sexual assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree criminal trespass and theft. Pacheco has a long history of arrests dating back to 1997, including felony assault, felony trespassing, felony theft, intimidating a witness, driving under the influence, marijuana possession and public urination.

Michael Clapper, 24, of Denver, also faces charges for kidnapping, trespass and theft. Clapper has previously been arrested for arson, harassment, theft and trespassing.

The arrests were made Thursday after the woman got in touch with authorities after being left at the rest stop.

The men were held in the Garfield County Jail until Tuesday, when they were being transferred to Denver, a jail official said.

According to his arrest affidavit, Clapper told police that Pacheco approached him at a Denver bus stop around 2 p.m. June 11 and asked him if he was “GKI” because he was wearing a purple shirt. Purple shirts are associated with Denver gang Gallant Knights Insane, and Pacheco was reportedly also wearing one.

Although Clapper asserted that he was not GKI, the arrest documents say he went with Pacheco and the pair were reportedly looking for a place to drink when they came across a woman standing near another bus stop at the intersection of Colfax and Broadway at around 8 p.m.

The woman told police the pair said they were going to Las Vegas and told her to get in the car, a red Honda Civic. The shorter of the two men then reportedly sexually assaulted her twice in the back seat as the pair drove around the greater Denver area, and eventually headed West on Interstate 70. She also told police that the pair tried and failed to get truck drivers to have sex with her for money.

Clapper’s testimony indicates that during the first incident at a gas station, he told Pacheco he was unwilling to take part in non-consensual sex. He told police that they finally pulled off at Bair Ranch because he told Pacheco that they needed to let the woman go.

The victim, having fallen asleep in the back seat, said she was unsure what time it was when she was dropped off at the Bair Ranch rest area. She contacted the Colorado State Patrol around 11 a.m. June 12, and was subsequently taken to Valley View Hospital. Information about her injuries and condition was not available.

A State Patrol trooper spotted the vehicle about an hour later in the parking lot of a West Glenwood Springs auto parts store. Glenwood Springs police apprehended Pacheco and Clapper at 12:21 p.m. Police reports say the car was stolen.